Want to learn how to self-manage funds allocated to your aged parent, child with a disability or person with a mental illness? These two events are for you.

If you want to learn how to self-manage funds allocated to yourself, or an aged parent, child with a disability or person with a mental illness, then one of two upcoming conferences may be of great benefit.

One is in Sydney later this month, and the other is in Melbourne next month.

The Sydney conference is the People with Disability Australia (PWD) conference Independent Support Brokerage – Two-day Introduction Course.

This conference is being held on Wednesday, April 27 and Thursday, April 28 from 9.30am – 4.30pm each day. The cost is $250.

The venue is at the offices of Gilbert & Tobin, Level 37, 2 Park Street, Sydney.

The conference is a response to the government’s Stronger Together 2 project which has made a commitment to person-centred approaches, with people with disability given the option to use individualised funding to control the supports they receive.

The policy recognises the role that Support Brokers will play in assisting people with disability, and their families and carers, to manage these individualised supports.

International experts Alison Short and Steve Dowson will be keynote speakers at this two-day course, and plan to provide participants with a clear explanation of the international history of individualised funding, its principles and benefits, and the role of the Support Broker.

Places are limited so you will need to register quickly. For more information, visit the PWD website at or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or email event organiser Michael Bleasdale at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Alternatively, phone PWD on 02 9370 3100 or Toll Free: 1800 422 015.

The Melbourne conference will review developments towards self-management of supports and services in disability, aged care, chronic illness, mental health and special education.

The Self-Management Conference, hosted by Social Enterprise Partnerships, is being held on Monday, May 2 and Tuesday, May 3, at the Angliss Conference Centre, 5/555 La Trobe Street, Melbourne, and is open for registrations.

If you have ever wanted to learn how to self-manage funds allocated to your aged parent, child with a disability or person with a mental illness, then this conference is for you.

It will examine working models from around Australia, and explore strategies for improving self-management practice and enhancing infrastructure, technology, peer and professional supports.

The style of the conference will be one of learning from peers, sharing information, and networking to take advantage of best practice.

Key speakers are:

• Lyn Zanchetta, who manages her 40-year-old daughter Lisa's Home First disability package.
• Margaret Gray, who manages her 92-year-old mother's EACH aged care package.
• Siegried Drews, who manages his wife Mardi's 24-hour care needs through a technology portal he designed himself to assist in the direct employment of staff.
• Suzette Gallagher, who has managed her 45-year-old son Shaun's disability package for 20 years.
• George Vassilou, who manages both his ageing mother's care package and his 23-year-old daughter Natasha's disability package.

For more information about the conference, go to the Partnerships website here

To register, Click here